Text by Jennifer Manongdo
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit and Jennifer Manongdo
Postgraduate students from the University of Waterloo in Canada embarked on an academic visit to the University of the Philippines, Manila, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5, 2025, aimed at fostering collaboration on academic programs and strengthening joint research activities.
The two-week program featured lectures, workshops, and site visits designed to deepen their understanding of public health issues and programs in the Philippines. As part of the schedule, the postgraduate students visited partner communities in Cavite and took part in laboratory activities and systems thinking workshops on measles, tuberculosis, dengue, and teenage pregnancy. They also had the opportunity to meet with officers and staff of the office of Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF).
The delegation was led by Dr. Jennifer Yessis, University of Waterloo assistant professor at the School of Public Health Sciences, and Michelle Fluit, professional graduate program manager, Waterloo School of Public Health Sciences. The graduate students who came for the visit are Arya Joshi, Anita Jozepovic, Ananya Verma, Harris Manzoor, Maika Munezero, and Ying Zhu.
Dr. Yessis expressed gratitude for the experience and shared how the University of Waterloo is eager to strengthen its partnership with UP Manila.
“I wanted to share that the president of the University of Waterloo, Vivek Goel, who has an expertise in public health as well, is very excited about the opportunity to partner with University of the Philippines Manila…I know that there’s an opportunity for a grant that I think we’re jointly going to be submitting to the government of Canada,” she said. “I think he’ll be very pleased to know what feedback we gathered from you during this visit.”
The group also participated in an educational tour on Sept. 3, 2025, at the Manila City Health Department and attended a lecture on the reproductive health programs of the city presented by Dr. Evelyn Rimando, division chief of the Family Planning Division, and Dr. Alphonse Raphael Guevara, Zuellig Family Foundation NCR Technical Manager.
The College of Public Health and the Office of International and Local Linkages facilitated the schedule of the visitors from the University of Waterloo.
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